Community Passes Elmhurst Park District Referendum
As of November 5, 2024, the majority of Elmhurst Park District voters answered “yes” to the bond referendum request to raise revenue to improve, equip and maintain parks and facilities throughout the District, including replacing the Wagner Community Center; building a community bandshell at Wilder Park; adding permanent, heated restrooms at three parks and along the Prairie Path; and converting a grass field to artificial turf at Berens Park.
The new Wagner Community Center will accommodate more residents and feature:
- Free three-lane walking/jogging track
- Gymnasium for pickleball, basketball, volleyball and other sports
- Artificial turf field for soccer, football, baseball and other sports
- Larger spaces for dance and gymnastics programs
- Flexible multi-purpose spaces for more programming and community gatherings
- Indoor play area for children
- Dedicated early childhood and preschool spaces with a secure entrance
“Our residents have been an essential part of this process from the beginning, sharing their vision during the Elevate Elmhurst Parks planning, providing feedback on projects during multiple open houses, answering our voter survey and then voting,” said Kevin Graf, Park Board President. “We are pleased to be able to deliver their vision.”
With the community’s approval of the bond request, the Park District will complete design development for the Wagner Community Center along with the other projects in 2025. At the same time, plans will be made to temporarily relocate programs and services currently held at the Wagner Center beginning in fall 2025. Construction on the new Wagner Center is expected to start in 2026 with the new facility opening in fall 2027. The community bandshell, year-round heated restrooms, and upgrading a grass field to artificial turf will be completed in 2026-2028.
Check this webpage and regularly follow us on social media to stay up to date on progress and details.
April 2025 Progress Report
Wagner Community Center (WCC) Project
- WCC Design Development Task Force:
- Dewberry met with program supervisors and key staff to discuss their respective areas in the new center and further refine the details for specific programming spaces.
- Dewberry met with IT staff to discuss networking, security, building access, etc.
- Dewberry met with operations staff to review HVAC and mechanical systems.
- Construction Management Firm Selection Process:
- Following selection of McHugh+Nacional, began negotiations on a contract for construction management services.
- WCC Relocation Task Force:
- Investigation into potential lease options for commercial space to accommodate the District’s gymnastics and dance programs is ongoing.
Community Engagement & Communications
- Community Engagement & Communications Task Force:
- Updated District website referendum pages to include individual referendum project progress reporting and timelines along with reorganized and updated FAQs.
Crestview Park Master Plan
- Hosted Master Plan Open House on March 20 (75 attendees) to provide residents an opportunity to share their future vision for the Park.
- V3 assessing community input, suggestions, feedback, etc., to begin developing draft Master Plan concepts.
- Second Open House to share the concepts with the community scheduled for May 1.
Wilder Park Bandshell with Restrooms
- Staff met with Upland Design to discuss Master Planning process for Wilder Park southside, including community engagement
